DBPASSWORDsecret

DBPASSWORDsecret is a generic term used in software development to denote the secret that stores the password required to access a database. Depending on the project, it can appear as a variable name, a key in a configuration file, or an entry in a secrets management system. It is not a standard specification, but developers commonly use it as a readable label for the credential in code or infrastructure.

In modern deployments, database passwords should be retrieved at runtime from a secure store rather than embedded in code or configuration files. Applications may read a secret named DBPASSWORDsecret from environment variables, a secrets vault, or cloud secret services, and then use it to establish a database connection. This approach supports rotation and restricted access.

Security considerations: hardcoding passwords increases the risk of leakage. Secrets should be encrypted at rest and in transit, access should be controlled by least privilege, and access should be logged. Secrets should not be committed to version control or exposed in logs or error messages. Use automatic rotation and short-lived credentials when possible.

Best practices: adopt centralized secrets management, integrate with CI/CD to inject secrets at runtime, use dynamic credentials or IAM-based access for cloud databases, and apply auditing and alerting for secret access. Documentation should clarify the purpose of the DBPASSWORDsecret entry and its rotation policy.